Local government polls unlikely before June, focus remains on national vote: CEC

Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin has said it will “not be possible” to prepare for local government elections by June, emphasising that the commission’s primary objective is to hold national elections in December.

Speaking at an event at the Electoral Training Institute auditorium on Monday, the CEC reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to its electoral timeline.

According to Nasir, the voter list update, a process currently underway, will take until June to complete.

The Local Government Reforms Commission had earlier proposed that all local government elections be held by June.

However, Nasir dismissed the feasibility of that timeline, explaining that it would mean keeping the 1.6 million dead voters on the electoral roll while failing to include 3.5 million newly eligible ones.

Without a finalised voter list, he said, election preparations cannot move forward.

“Our target is December and the national elections,” he said.

“If the elections are to be held in December, we must announce the schedule by October.”

The CEC stressed that the reform commission’s recommendation was its own viewpoint rather than an official directive.

“They are wise and knowledgeable people; I have no comment on this,” he said, adding that the Election Commission had no desire to be drawn into any political debate.

“The voter list has not yet been finalised, and we are proceeding with preparations in accordance with the chief advisor’s announcements.”

With the consensus commission’s term set for six months, Nasir suggested that stakeholders would need to wait for further negotiations during that period.

In addition to finalising the voter list, the Election Commission is addressing other administrative matters, including numerous pending applications for boundary demarcation.

“These cases remain unresolved due to legal complications,” he said.

“A proposal has already been submitted to the government for amendments to the relevant laws.”

The commission, he added, would continue to propose reforms it deems necessary to ensure a fair election process.

When asked whether national elections could be held under the country’s current law and order situation, Nasir expressed confidence that conditions would stabilise in time.

“By December, with everyone’s cooperation, we will establish an election environment where the only concern for the people will be casting their votes.”

Local Government Advisor Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain had earlier suggested that local elections be held before the national vote to mitigate disruptions in public services.

However, he clarified that this was his personal opinion and that the final decision rested with the government.